Furniture-Today back issues from May 2008:
Upholstery options grow in casual dining.
May 05, 2008; ... By Heath E. Combs High Point- "Pop" and "pizzazz" are the words that come to Alan Mintz's mind as he describes how his company, casual dining specialist Reflections, employs fabrics to distinguish its mixed-media looks. Over the last three decades, the company has ...
Shopping Shenzhen.
May 05, 2008 ... By Thomas Russell Shenzhen, China- With one of China's fastest growing cities as a backdrop, visitors to the 22nd International Furniture Exhibition here had plenty of product styles and categories to shop. Covering 1.7 million square feet at the Shenzhen Convention & ...
Foreign exhibitors help broaden show's offerings.
May 05, 2008 ... By Thomas Russell Shenzhen, China- For the second year in a row, the Shenzhen International Furniture Exhibition here broadened its mix to include foreign exhibitors. Among them were 33 companies from Indonesia, many of which had small booths displaying accessories ...
Veteran salesman finds success with his ears.
May 05, 2008 ... David Perry, Bedding Editor Patrick Schweitzer, the manager of the newest 1800mattress.com store in New York, is a veteran mattress salesman who finds success with his ears. "The biggest key to mattress sales is listening to the customer," he said. "The more you know ...
1800mattress.com offers 'test naps'.(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... David Perry, Bedding Editor New York- Most bedding retailers encourage consumers to lie down on the mattresses that they are considering for purchase. But now 1800mattress.com, based here, is taking that invitation to the next level: It is offering consumers a chance to enjoy a ...
Bedding conference offers formula for retail success.(Conference news)
May 05, 2008 ... David Perry, Executive Editor As the mattress industry lurches through unusually trying times, we've got a formula for retail success: Learn from bedding retailers with a proven track record of growth. Add more high-end beds to your floor to boost your ...
Springs prices climbing.
May 05, 2008 ... By David Perry Suppliers blame soaring cost of steel High Point- Bedding producers, struggling with an industrywide sales slump, have gotten some unwelcome news from their spring suppliers: Prices are going up dramatically. Other categories of components, ...
Formaldehyde rule a threat.
May 05, 2008 ... By Jeff Linville Washington- About 5,000 people have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to crack down on formaldehyde emissions, an issue that would affect many types of furniture. Last year, the California Air Resources Board approved tighter guidelines ...
Havertys earnings up.(Financial report)
May 05, 2008 ... Staff Atlanta- Havertys credited strategies including a shift to more credit promotions and away from price discounting for helping the company post a 24.2% gain in first-quarter earnings despite a 3% sales decline. The Atlanta-based retailer said it earned $1 ...
Credit worries on rise.
May 05, 2008; ... By Clint Engel Loans more costly, harder to find High Point- By many accounts the furniture industry has become as much a victim of the credit squeeze as consumers who can no longer afford their mortgage payments. Sources say some factors and lenders have ...
Import growth slows to 2% in '07.
May 05, 2008 ... By Thomas Russell High Point- The weak dollar and slow U.S. economy appeared to have dampened the rise in furniture imports last year, according to U.S. government figures compiled by Furniture/Today. Imports rose just 2% in 2007 to $24 billion, a slowdown from gains ...
Sun Capital claims victory over FBI.
May 05, 2008 ... By Larry Thomas St. Louis- Sun Capital Partners claimed victory last week in its proxy fight with Furniture Brands International, saying shareholders elected its three nominees to the board of directors "by a substantial margin." Sun Capital based its claim on an ...
Satterfield leaves Bassett.(Michael Satterfield of Bassett Furniture Industries Inc.)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008 ... Staff Bassett, Va.- Michael Satterfield has left as Bassett Furniture's vice president of marketing to pursue new opportunities, according to the company. Jay Moore, director of retail analytics, said Satterfield's position will not be filled at this time ....
England unveils galleries in Canada, Minn., Wis.(England Inc. has opened Custom Comfort Centers in Wisconsin, Minnesota and New Brunswick, Canada. )(Brief article)
May 05, 2008 ... Staff New Tazewell, Tenn.- Upholstery manufacturer England has opened Custom Comfort Centers in Wisconsin, Minnesota and New Brunswick, Canada. Furniture Superstore, in Rochester, Minn., has installed a 4,000-square-foot Custom Comfort Center. The 15,000-square-foot ...
Vineyard opens 2 galleries.
May 05, 2008 ... Staff Winnsboro, La.- Importer and distributor Vineyard Furniture has opened two new galleries at stores in Iowa and Michigan. Latham Furniture in Decorah, Iowa, has installed a 5,000-square-foot, in-store gallery featuring a combination of Vineyard Furniture's ...
DSA says it takes credit risks.(DSA Financial Corp.)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... By Clint Engel Chicago- Howard Tolsky says that in these tough economic times, lenders have gone from one extreme to the other, tightening credit lines to the point that retailers can't make the purchases they need to remain viable. He says his small firm, DSA ...
GE cuts unsecured finance program to industry.
May 05, 2008 ... By Clint Engel Chicago- GE Capital Solutions confirmed last week that it is cutting back its inventory financing program to the furniture industry. "Due to current economic and market conditions, a strategic decision has been made to reduce our unsecured inventory ...
Weak dollar contributes to 6% rise in U.S. exports.
May 05, 2008 ... By Thomas Russell High Point- A weak dollar may be putting a strain on furniture imports, but it is having the opposite effect on exports. U.S. furniture shipments to other countries rose 6% in 2007, to $2.37 billion from $2.23 billion in 2006. The growth rate is ...
HGTV-NHFA program attracts 700 retailers.
May 05, 2008 ... By Gary Evans Knoxville, Tenn.- The Preferred Retailer Program established through a partnership of HGTV and the National Home Furnishings Assn. has signed on 700 stores nationwide so far, representing more than $4 billion in annual sales, officials said. Announced ...
Scott Hoagland DeDi Sr., Jene's Collection.
May 05, 2008 ... Staff Wellington, Fla.- Scott Hoagland DeDi Sr., a sales representative with Dallas-based home decor and occasional furniture manufacturer Jene's Collection, has died after a brief battle with cancer. He was 72. A 34-year rep to the lighting and home furnishings ...
Furniture Hall of Fame seeking nominations.
May 05, 2008 ... Staff High Point- The American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation is opening nominations of candidates to be inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame later this year. Only members of the foundation are eligible to nominate and vote. "We encourage everyone in ...
Vegas switches dates for winter show to Feb. 9-13.(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... By Joan Gunin Las Vegas- The Las Vegas Market has scheduled its 2009 winter show for Feb. 9-13, which may put a squeeze on retailers and exhibitors choosing to participate in both the Las Vegas and Tupelo markets. The Tupelo Furniture Market's winter market is set for ...
Juried shows set for Vegas.
May 05, 2008 ... Staff Las Vegas- More than 200 exhibitors will present design-inspired products in three juried showcases at the Las Vegas Market, July 28-Aug. 1, according to market organizers. Design & Living, ConText and Living Green Pavilion spaces will be on the fifth floor of ...
Cost Plus settles suit with WMC.(World Market Center)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008 ... Staff Las Vegas- Cost Plus World Market and the World Market Center say they have settled issues raised by a lawsuit that Cost Plus filed last year demanding WMC drop "World Market" from its name. The agreement will enable the World Market Center to continue using ...
Calling all retail heroes.
May 05, 2008 ... Ray Allegrezza, Editor in Chief Ishould have my head examined. Spring has just arrived in a gloriously verdant Greensboro, and I'm already focused on December. But you might be, too, if a key part of your job involved putting together the content for Furniture/Today's ...
FBI profits rise despite 14.3% sales decline.(Financial report)
May 05, 2008 ... By Larry Thomas St. Louis- Furniture Brands International said its sales fell 14.3% in the first quarter, but profits from continuing operations more than doubled. The company said the results, which were consistent with a preliminary earnings announcement issued ...
RAC earnings more than double.(Rent-A-Center Inc. (Plano, Texas))(Financial report)
May 05, 2008; ... Larry Thomas Plano, Texas- Rent-A-Center, the largest U.S. rent-to-own chain, said first quarter revenues were essentially even with last year's first quarter but profits more than doubled. The company said same-store sales rose 2.8% due to a restructuring plan that ...
Flexsteel sales, earnings drop.(Flexsteel Industries Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 05, 2008 ... Staff Dubuque, Iowa- Upholstery manufacturer Flexsteel Inds. closed its fiscal third quarter with a slight gain in residential furniture sales, but reported that overall sales - which includes recreational vehicle and commercial furniture - were down 5.7%. ...
Tempur-Pedic defends self.
May 05, 2008 ... By David Perry Lexington, Ky.- Decrying "unfair competition" in the memory foam category, Tempur-Pedic's president has written a strongly worded letter to dealers defending Tempur-Pedic's products and their track record in the marketplace. "We can not sit idle at ...
Magnussen Home cuts staff.(Brief article)
May 05, 2008; ... Jeff Linville New Hamburg, Ontario- Case goods importer Magnussen Home has downsized its marketing and public relations staff, cutting seven jobs at its headquarters here and its High Point satellite office. Ron Carpenter, vice president of marketing and business ...
HFIA helps New Orleans.
May 05, 2008 ... Staff Dallas- The Home Furnishings Independents Assn. will devote a full day at its upcoming annual meeting in New Orleans to help Hurricane Katrina victims rebuild and recover. HFIA members from around the country are donating furniture, which New Orleans retailer ...
Natale at Lifestyle Enterprise.(appointment of Gabriele Natale )(Brief article)
May 05, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Gabriele Natale has joined importer Lifestyle Enterprise as president of its Shanghai Leather division. Natale was most recently with importer and distributor Home Line. Previously, he was president of Natale, the Italy-based leather upholstery and ...
Wahlquist hires Williams.
May 05, 2008 ... Staff Little Rock, Ark.- Home furnishings promotions company Wahlquist Management has hired Mandy Williams as vice president of sales and marketing, reporting to Clay Wahlquist, CEO. She replaced Todd Harvey, who left the company. "Mandy's role will be to ...
Heath joins Chandra Rugs.
May 05, 2008 ... Staff Adairsville, Ga.- Michael Heath has been named national sales manager for Chandra Rugs, according to Ravi Tiwari, vice president. Heath spent the past four years with Angela Adams Design in regional and national sales ...
April High Point Market draws 47,168 buyers.(Brief article)
May 05, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Despite an industry sales slump that has caused numerous bankruptcies and going-out-of-business sales, buyer registrations at the most recent High Point market were essentially even with last spring's event. Data compiled by the High Point Market ...
Frampton, Sunshine Band to perform at Oct. market.
May 05, 2008 ... Staff High Point- Two legendary rock acts and a country music star have been booked for the "Stars Under the Stars" concert series at the October market. The nightly entertainment series kicks off with KC & The Sunshine Band on the market's opening night, Oct. 20, ...
People on the Move.
May 05, 2008 ... Staff Marketing/Sales Safavieh New York - Scott Kraus has been promoted to regional manager for Safavieh and will relocate to the company's Madison Avenue wholesale showroom in New York. Previously, he was based at the company's Port Washington, N.Y., ...
People Today.
May 12, 2008 ... Staff Marketing/Sales Great River Trading Co. High Point - Jeffrey Schesnol has joined case goods marketer Great River Trading Co. as merchandise manager. Schesnol served in a similar capacity for five years with Manchester Furniture, the ...
Eclectic, global mix wins fans for Salsa.
May 12, 2008 ... By Marc Barnes Sonoma, Calif.- Bruce Needleman and Edna Hayes-Needleman, owners of Salsa Trading Co., have a somewhat unorthodox approach in dealing with their customers: They ask them not to buy so much. "With a lot of traditional pieces, they are larger in scale ...
Salsa Trading delivers the goods.
May 12, 2008 ... Staff Sonoma, Calif.- The secret to Salsa Trading Co.'s success? Get it done. Co-owner Edna Hayes-Needleman likes to tell the story of a customer who was a tourist in California's wine country. He visited Salsa Trading Co. and liked what he saw. A year ...
Seen in Milan: Walls, whites, stuff in pairs.
May 12, 2008 ... By Carole Sloan Rho, Italy- Sophisticated wall systems, furniture shown in pairs - whether sofas, consoles or tables in high-low pairings - and the color white were standout trends at last month's Milan furniture fair here. Many exhibitors at the Salone del Mobile ...
Miskelly plans to open first bedding store.
May 12, 2008 ... By Clint Engel Jackson, Miss.- Miskelly Furniture plans to open its first bedding specialty store here this year, featuring a health and wellness message. Chip Miskelly, who co-owns the Top 100 company with his brothers Oscar and Tommy Miskelly, said the ...
Factory orders down in February.
May 12, 2008 ... Staff High Point- U.S. residential furniture factories posted another down month in February, with orders and shipments both off 7% from the same month last year, according to Smith Leonard. For the first two months of the year, the accounting and consulting firm's ...
Sullens to direct sales for Aramith.
May 12, 2008 ... Staff Callenelle, Belgium- Industry veteran Scott Sullens has joined Aramith, a billiards manufacturer that has entered the dining furniture category, as chief sales and marketing officer for North America. He previously was vice president of sales for Lexington Home ...
Prophesy, BestTransport.com team up.
May 12, 2008 ... Staff Bloomfield, Conn.- Prophesy Transportation Solutions, a supplier of logistics and transportation software, has formed a partnership with BestTransport.com, a provider of online transportation management systems. The partnership will allow logistics ...
Flexsteel opens galleries in Maine, Minnesota stores.
May 12, 2008 ... Staff Dubuque, Iowa- Recliner manufacturer Flexsteel has opened galleries in stores in Maine and Minnesota. In Gray, Maine, a 10,000-square-foot gallery has been added to Gobeil's Furniture Gallery on Portland Road. The 35,000-square-foot store is owned by Ron and ...
South Dakota retailer installs Ekornes Stressless Zone.
May 12, 2008 ... Staff Sioux Falls, S.D.- Montgomery's Furniture Gallery has opened a 1,000-square-foot Ekornes Stressless Comfort Zone at its West 41st St. store. The 30,000-square-foot store was founded in 1888 and is currently owned by Clark Sinclair, the fifth generation of the Sinclair ...
Mattress-speak can yield hidden pearls of wisdom.(Editorial)
May 12, 2008 ... David Perry, Executive Editor This week we drill down beneath the surface reality of the common sayings and, yes, cliches that are so much a part of our mattress vocabulary. We look for hidden nuggets of wisdom, pearls in the oyster, as it were. We begin with: "These ...
Furniture sales up in 2007? Let's look at the numbers.
May 12, 2008; ... Jerry Epperson The statistics are now available for the fourth quarter of 2007, and the changes are interesting. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, total consumer purchases of residential furniture and mattresses through all types of retailing grew 2.4% in ...
For fabric suppliers, hospitality's nice.
May 12, 2008 ... Carole Sloan, Senior Contributing Editor With the home furnishings marketplace generally in the doldrums, there is a group of decorative fabric suppliers that are seeing a plus side of the business - those in the hospitality market. Though the product names are ...
Shermag seeks help.
May 12, 2008; ... By Michael J. Knell Company files for CCAA protection Sherbrooke, Quebec- Full line manufacturer and importer Shermag sought court protection from its creditors last week as it attempts to restructure in the face of a sagging U.S. retail environment, an unfavorable ...
Promo uph. orders slow.
May 12, 2008 ... By Gary Evans Tupelo, Miss.- Promotional upholstery manufacturers here say that new orders have slowed to a trickle in the past few weeks, almost like somebody turnrd off a spigot. "To my knowledge, we don't have a plant in northern Mississippi that is working a full ...
Simmons sales up.(revenue report)(Financial report)
May 12, 2008 ... Staff Atlanta- Simmons' sales rose 3.5% in the first quarter on the strength of higher unit pricing, but rising raw material and fuel costs led to lower profits, the bedding major said. Net income of $2.5 million in the quarter was down 43% from the comparable ...
IHFC chief Lindh resigns.(Tom Lindh of International Home Furnishings Center)(Brief article)
May 12, 2008; ... By Larry Thomas Miller returning as interim leader High Point- Tom Lindh resigned last week as president and CEO of the International Home Furnishings Center, effective immediately, the showroom building complex announced. The IHFC said Lindh, who has been ...
Industry gathers in Bahamas.
May 12, 2008 ... By Clint Engel Paradise Island, Bahamas- About 250 retailers, manufacturers and other guests of the National Home Furnishings Assn. and the American Home Furnishings Alliance enjoyed sun, fun and information during the groups' 2008 All Industry Convention here. ...
Rooms To Go sets stage for growth.
May 12, 2008 ... By Clint Engel Seffner, Fla.- Room To Go CEO Jeff Seaman says this year will be tougher than 2007, but that's not stopping one of the largest U.S. furniture retailers from going after growth in Houston and other markets. The 115-store Top 100 company expects to open ...
Reaction to formaldehyde petition mixed.
May 12, 2008 ... By Jeff Linville High Point- A petition urging the Environmental Protection Agency to enact limits on formaldehyde emissions is getting mixed reaction in the furniture industry. Some manufacturers and suppliers approve, saying it levels the playing field because ...
Natuzzi sets temporary workforce reduction.(Natuzzi Salotti S.p.A.)(Brief article)
May 12, 2008; ... Joan Gunin Santeramo En Colle, Italy- Weak orders have led leather upholstery specialist Natuzzi to implement a temporary workforce reduction effective May 19, idling 1,200 workers for 13 weeks. Italy as a nation traditionally shuts down for vacation during the first ...
Execs, sales reps should stay until market's end.
May 12, 2008 ... Staff Someone told me a long time ago, "Everyone is where they are, because that is where they want to be, whether they believe it or not." I have referenced to the attitude of our industry supplier's employees. If your trade message is aimed at boosting the High Point Market, ...
Obituaries.(Obituary)
May 12, 2008 ... Staff Gerald Michael Donahue, owner, Donahue Furniture Staff Woodstock, Ill. - Gerald Michael Donahue, owner and operator of Donahue Furniture Store here, has died of cancer. He was 85. Donahue served in the Army Air Corps for three years during ...
Preferred Retailers to benefit from HGTV.
May 12, 2008 ... By Clint Engel Paradise Island, Bahamas- The National Home Furnishings Assn. and HGTV pitched their new Preferred Retailer Program here, saying that participating stores will gain exposure to HGTV watchers and Web visitors for a fraction of a usual advertising budget. ...
ISPA: Bedding shipments down 4.6% in 1Q.
May 12, 2008 ... David Perry Alexandria, Va.- If bedding producers needed any more evidence that their industry is mired in a dismal slump, it just arrived. The International Sleep Products Assn. has released first-quarter results for 2008 documenting market conditions that "continue ...
FHFRA honors Badcock's Marks as Distinguished Retailer of Year.
May 12, 2008 ... Staff St. Petersburg, Fla.- Don Marks of Badcock Home Furniture & More, Mulberry, Fla., has been named 2008 Distinguished Retailer of the Year by the Florida Home Furnishings Representatives Assn. Each year FHFRA honors a retailer whose creative skills, management ...
L&P debuts Superlastic PRO.
May 12, 2008 ... Staff Carthage, Mo.- Components giant Leggett & Platt is introducing a high-profile innerspring coil designed to help bedding producers save money on upholstery materials. Superlastic PRO is a three-turn, seven-inch tall alternating continuous coil innerspring ...
Regal Fabrics acquires rights to Hafner line.(Brief article)
May 12, 2008; ... Gary Evans Middleton, Mass.- Regal Fabrics has agreed to produce fabrics formerly made by Hafner Inc., and also has acquired exclusive rights to produce and sell the Mastercraft novelty tapestry designs. "We regret that market conditions have led to the closing of ...